Meet the Minds Behind Owen's Antiques

Meet Hertis Smithey and Michael Boyle, the general manager and owner of Owen's Antiques on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. The store recently celebrated is grand re-opening

Q: Hertis, you are a realtor by trade. How did you make the jump from realtor to the general manager of an antique store?

Smithey: Well, sales, marketing and customer service are the common denominators. Michael has been great in trusting me with the marketing and the acquiring of pieces [for the store] and that's been great.

I've always had an interest in art and antiques. I took a course on art at Columbia University, I have a friend who is an art historian, I love The Antiques Roadshow and I used to live on Antiques Row at 18th and Pine, so while I've never been within the business, I've always been exposed and interested in it.

Q: You took over as general manager of the store on August 31. How has it been so far?

Smithey: It's been great. Mike really trusts me and gives me free reign in marketing, purchases and running the store. I mean, I've got roots in the community … I live across the street. We're blessed to be in Mt. Airy, where we're the only antiques store on the Avenue.

I'm not an expert in antiques yet, but I'm a willing student and I learn a lot at the auctions (Owen's Antiques gets most of its pieces through auction- Ed). Just by being in the mix at those thing, you learn a bunch, so I'm really appreciative and excited for the opportunity to be part of a business in the area.

Q: Where does the name, "Owen's Antiques," come from?

Boyle: My grandfather, Owen Boyle, lived on the 100 block of East Durham street. He drove the 23 Trolly down Germantown for years. His wife, Mary, worked for the DuPont family, and that's where she first acquired some antiques. They always had nice antiques in their house. When I decided to open the store here, I thought I'd name it after Owen.

Q: What made you decide to open an antique store in the first place?

Boyle: I wanted to open a store on Germantown Avenue and you need places that are interesting for local flavor. Antique stores are great for that. You never know what you're going to see.